As Tash’s character develops, we learn that she’s Force-sensitive. She has feelings and intuitions that Zak and Hoole both trust, so when they wind up on a lost space station that gives her bad feelings, they know something is up. That squatters on the station are slowly disappearing is just a confirmation that something bad is happening there.

It’s probably easy to tell what the big scary thing is in this book — a ghost! Of a Jedi! Yes, it turns out that the space station is more than it appears, though only Tash can tell due to her Force-sensitivity. She has her doubts about herself, as any young teenager does, and Whitman balances the story against its theme pretty well. Plus, there are no cameos in this volume, which makes it feel more self-contained in its own universe, which I appreciate.

The books are still hinting at a larger story, and I have to admit, I’m ready for that to resolve itself. That larger story only comes into play through the prologues and epilogues of these books, so it doesn’t feel like it’s a big important part of the story. The characterization carries over from book to book, but the plots are all stand-alone. After reading Jude Watson’s juvenile series (and even Alex Wheeler’s), I’ve gotten used to that larger story being significant. Here’s hoping it becomes a part of the story soon.

"'I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. 'When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.'"